Shoaib Akhtar, a Pakistani former cricketer, took 16 five-wicket hauls during his career in international cricket. A five-wicket haul (also known as a "five–for" or "fifer")[1] refers to a bowler taking five or more wickets in a single innings. This is regarded as a notable achievement,[2] and as of 2014 only 41 bowlers have taken more than 15 five-wicket hauls at international level in their cricketing careers.[3][4] A fast bowler who represented his country from 1997 to 2011, BBC described Shoaib as "one of the fastest bowlers ever to play the game".[5]
Shoaib made his Test debut in 1997 against the West Indies at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where he took two wickets in the first innings.[6] His first Test five-wicket haul came the following year against South Africa, a match Pakistan won at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban.[7] Shoaib took a pair of five-wicket hauls against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve, Wellington in December 2003.[8] His career-best figures for an innings were 6 wickets for 11 runs against New Zealand at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, in May 2002.[9] Shoaib took twelve five-wicket hauls in Test cricket and ten or more wickets per match twice in the format.[8][10]
Having made his One Day International (ODI) debut in October 1998 against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club,[11] Shoaib's first five-wicket haul came against New Zealand in 2001, a match Pakistan won at the Eden Park, Auckland.[12] His best bowling performance in ODIs was 6 wickets for 16 runs against New Zealand at the National Stadium, Karachi, in December 2001.[13] Shoaib played 19 Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan, however he never took a five-wicket haul in this format.[14] He retired from international cricket after the 2011 Cricket World Cup.[15] As of 2014, he is sixth in the list of five-wicket haul takers for Pakistan, all formats of the game combined.[16]
- ^ "Swinging it for the Auld Enemy – An interview with Ryan Sidebottom". The Scotsman. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
... I'd rather take fifers (five wickets) for England ...
- ^ Pervez, M. A. (2001). A Dictionary of Cricket. Orient Blackswan. p. 31. ISBN 978-81-7370-184-9.
- ^ "Test Matches: Bowling Records – Most five-wickets-in-an-innings in a career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "One-Day Internationals: Bowling Records – Most five-wickets-in-an-innings in a career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar to retire after World Cup". BBC Sport. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "West Indies in Pakistan Test Series – 2nd Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "Pakistan in South Africa Test Series – 2nd Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Pakistan in New Zealand Test Series – 2nd Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "Pakistan in New Zealand Test Series – 1st Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "Bangladesh in Pakistan Test Series – 2nd Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "Pakistan in Zimbabwe ODI Series – 1st ODI". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "Pakistan in New Zealand ODI Series – 1st match, Group B". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "New Zealand in Pakistan ODI Series – 1st match, Group B". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "Shoaib Akhtar". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ Samiuddin, Usman (17 March 2011). "Shoaib Akhtar to retire after World Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "Cricket Records – Records – Pakistan – Combined Test, ODI and T20I – Most five-wickets-in-an-innings". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2012.